Drinking Straw That Prevents the Suction of Objects

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a flexible drinking straw. The straw allows a user to easily suction liquid while preventing foreign bodies in the liquid from entering the mouth of a user. The straw comprises a tube defining a substantially constant cross-sectional inner channel, The tube has a multitude of fins extending from an inner wall of the tube to a distance from the inner wall. The fins create either a single or multiple liquid-way(s) that allow the liquid to flow freely while blocking foreign bodies that may be in the liquid. The straw comprises a tube with a cut and crimped end creating either single or multiple liquid-way(s) that allow liquid to flow freely while blocking foreign bodies.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fountain or drinking tubes and straws and more particularly to a straw having internal fin(s), internal filtering structure(s), and/or external filtering structure(s) to prevent suction of an object through the straw. The present invention solves the need to prevent suction of foreign objects through drinking straws while being efficient, practical, cost-effective, and conservative of raw material in production.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Straws for sucking a beverage from a glass or container are well known. A problem exists when a diameter of the straw is larger than foreign objects in a beverage—causing the object to be sucked into the mouth of a user. Typical objects found in drinks are insects, seeds and other parts of fruits and vegetables, pieces of ice, shards of glass, foreign objects and the like. For restaurants that offer lemon with water or tea, seeds in the beverage are typically sucked into the straw to clog the straw so that a new one is required. Seeds sucked through straws may even choke a patron. Mixed drinks made from pureed or trapped fruits and vegetable often contain seeds and parts of the stem, peel, or casing. When a user sucks a foreign object into his/her mouth, he/she is usually uncomfortable, and removing the object in public can be embarrassing. If the person is injured, the restaurant maybe involved in a lawsuit.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,320 to Schwartz (Safety straw) attempts to address the problem of sucking foreign objects through straws. Schwartz describes a drinking straw with a) a cord extending across the interior of the delivery tube substantially at the tube first end, or b) with a tube partition or c) with tandem tubes. Schwartz does not adequately address the problem because, while Schwartz may prevent a given-sized foreign object, such as a whole seed, it does not prevent smaller debris from entering the tube. The flow of fluid through the straw described in Schwartz would also create four independent channels, so the amount of suction a user would have to exert would be higher than that required for a single tube. Additionally, if foreign objects are the diameter of the channels, the channels will be blocked and a new straw will be required. Also, and most notably, Schwartz drinking straw contains substantially more raw material as compared to a traditional (unfiltered) drinking straw such that manufacturer of such straw is impractical, inefficient, and cost-prohibitive.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,316 to Leone (Multiple sucking-channel straw for sucking beverages) describes a fiat straw having a plurality of adjoining beverage sucking channels. Similar to Schwartz, Leone only prevents debris of a certain diameter from being sucked. The amount of suction required for Leone's four chambers would also be higher than a single tube. The channels can become blocked and require a new straw. As with Schwartz, Leone also contains substantially more raw material in production and is therefore impractical, inefficient, and cost-prohibitive.

A need exists for a straw that prevents bits of debris as well as larger debris from being sucked through a straw when enjoying a beverage. A need exists for an inexpensive straw that prevents a user from sucking all sizes of debris into his/her mouth. A need exists for a straw that prevents the suction of objects which requires little extra raw material for manufacture and is efficient to produce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a flexible straw for suctioning liquid from a container containing a foreign body. The straw comprises a tube defining a substantially constant outer cross-section. The tube has a proximal end and a distal end, and has a multitude of fins extending from an inner wall of the tube to a distance from the inner wall. The fins maintain either a single liquid-way or may create multiple liquid-ways the result of the liquid-ways having cross-sectional dimensions that are smaller than a diameter of the foreign body. The fins may be placed at a single proximal or distal end of the tube or at both ends of the tube. The fins may be continuous within the interior wails of the tube extending entirely from the proximal end to the distal end of the tube. Alternately, the fins may be spaced intermittently within the interior walls of the tube.

In an embodiment, fins extend from the inner wall at equally spaced arc lengths around a diameter of the tube. Alternatively, two fins extend from the inner wall at equally spaced arc lengths around a diameter of the tube. The fins may be straight, arched, bent or wavy, in an embodiment, the fins are all the same length from the wall of the straw, in an embodiment, the length of every other fin is longer than the intervening fin.

In an embodiment, the single or multiple liquid-way(s) extends co-axially within the tube from the proximal end to the distal end. Alternately, the single or multiple liquid-way(s) extends co-axially within the tube at a partial length of the tube.

The straw is extruded from a thermoplastic material.

In one embodiment, during production one end of the straw is heated to deform the tube to create an obstruction that prevents the foreign body from entering the straw.

The straw of the present invention is formed with additional elements, such as fins running coaxially within the length of the tube, fins running coaxially at intermittent lengths and within the tube, a thermoplastic strainer-type attachment heat-welded at either end of the tube, or a basket-type structure formed through cutting and heat-sealing the edges to form the debris-preventing structure.

The present invention is a straw having fins that prevents various sizes of debris from being sucked through the straw while not restricting the flow of fluid through the straw or requiring the user to suck harder on the straw. According to the present invention, a debris-restriction straw can be produced at a reasonable cost using less raw materials in manufacture than other prior art.

As used herein, “approximately” means within plus or minus 25% of the term it qualifies. The terms approximately and “about” means between ½ and 2 times the term it qualifies.

The compositions and methods of the present invention can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and imitations of the invention described herein, as well as any additional or optional ingredients, components, or limitations described herein or otherwise useful in compositions and methods of the general type as described herein.

Numerical ranges as used herein are intended to include every number and subset of numbers contained within that range, whether specifically disclosed or not. Further, these numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range or to be limited to the exact conversion to a different measuring system, such, but not limited to, as between inches and millimeters.

All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present invention shall include the corresponding plural characteristic or limitation, and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “above” “under”, “side” “front” and “back” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the straw,

FIG. 2 is a cross section of an embodiment of the straw.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of an alternate embodiment of the straw.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the straw.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the straw.

FIG. 6 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the straw.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of an additional embodiment of the straw.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the straw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a straw that allows a user to easily suction liquid while preventing foreign bodies in the liquid from entering the mouth of a user is described.

As shown in an embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the straw comprises a tube 10. The cross-section of the to 10 is substantially constant. The tube has a multitude of fins 13 extending from an inner wall of the tube to a distance from the inner wall into the tube. The fins 13 create areas in the tube having cross-sectional dimensions that are smaller than a diameter of a foreign body that may be in the liquid. By creating either a single or multiple liquid pathways rather than separate channels, a user does not have to suck harder on the straw of the present invention than that of a conventional straw.

In an embodiment, fins 13 extend from the inner wall at equally spaced arc lengths around an inside diameter of the tube. Alternatively, two fins extend from the inner wall at equally spaced arc lengths around the inside diameter of the tube. The fins may be straight, arched, bent or wavy. In an embodiment, the fins are all the same length from the inside wall of the straw. In an embodiment, the length of every other fin spaced along the inside diameter of the wall is longer than the intervening fin.

In an embodiment, the liquid-ways created by the fins extend co-axially within the tube the entire length of the straw. Alternately, the liquid-ways extend co-axially within the tube at a partial length of the tube.

In an embodiment, each fin 13 extends from the inside wall approximately ¼ to approximately 49/100 of the diameter of the tube. Fins range from about 1 mm to about 3 mm wide. In an embodiment each fin is approximately 2 mm wide. The width of the fin is limited only to widths that deter the fin from tearing or breaking during use.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the fins may be wider at the inside wall and narrow to a point as they extend into the lumen. In an embodiment, all of the fins are of equally widths. Alternately, wide and narrow fins may be mixed to block debris and allow the flow of liquid. As depicted in FIG. 3, a set of two fins are spaced at equal arc lengths around the inside diameter of the tube.

In an embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the fins are curved. Alternately, the fins can be wavy or angled In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, each alternating fin is longer than the intervening fin. Alternating fins are approximately two times the length of intervening fins.

As depicted in FIG. 6, a fin may extend farther than 50% of the lumen, but is not connected to another fin, thereby preserving the single channel. As depicted in FIG. 7, each fin may comprise a structure 15 at the end of the fin opposite the wall. The structure may be a bulb, a square, a widened part of the fin, and the like. The liquid passages of the straw are approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm wide.

As depicted in FIG. 8, an embodiment of the straw is created by extruding the tube made of thermoplastic material and cutting the end of the straw creating an additional structure piece 17 which is an extension of one side of the tube wall. The additional thermoplastic extension 17 is then folded back toward the opposite side wail of the tube, and attached at a point 18 by heat sealing, heat-welding, crimping, or other means of attachment to the opposite tube wall.

One skilled in the art would understand that any in combination could be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the width, length and placement of each fin need not be equal and the number of fins within the tube can be varied, so long as debris is blocked and a single channel is provided. While a circular tube is preferred, any shape that supports the fins can be employed

The straw is formed from a thermoplastic or polymeric material and melt-extruded into the shape of a continuous tube having fins that extend from the inside walls of the tube to form a barrier to debris. The straw of the invention is created in a one step extrusion process. The fins create obstructions in the diameter of the straw to prevent solids from flowing but avow liquids to flow around the obstructions.

The manufacture of the straw is in a continuous-feed die shaped to extrude the tube and the fins from a thermoplastic material. individual straws are straight cut or angle cut. When cut, the tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The straws may be cut while the material is still at a sufficient temperature to crimp and heat seal at least one end of the straw. By extruding the straw in a single step, rather than attaching the fins or some other barrier at a later time, the fins are part of the straw and do not easily break off. The manufacturing process includes a constant extrusion of the fins of the same (thermoplastic material) as the tube. The extrusion design of the fins is defined by the die tool used to extrude the material. The extrusion of the fins may be continuous or intermittent throughout the interior of the tube.

In an embodiment, the filtering mechanism is a short straw and is a separate piece that is added to an existing traditional straw. Here, the filtering mechanism is a short piece and used similar to a filter on a cigarette.

The method of the present invention is advantageous because it can be carried out economically and does not require more manufacturing steps or complicated tools.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments and examples of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It will be understood that the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 

1. A method of forming a straw for suctioning liquid while blocking solid objects, the method including extruding a flexible, thermoplastic material into a tube having a substantially constant single channel cross-section with fins projecting from an inner wall of the tube around a diameter of the tube into the channel, wherein the fins extend from the inner well to create a single or multiple liquid pathway(s) having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the solid object.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tube is cut into lengths equal to that of a conventional straw.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the tube is crimped at every other cut.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the tube is of sufficient width to fit over an end of a conventional straw.
 5. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the pathways extend co axially within the tube.
 6. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the pathways extend a partial length of the tube.
 7. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the fins extend from the inner wall at equally spaced arc lengths around a diameter of the tube.
 8. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein two fins extend from the it wall at equally spaced arc lengths around a diameter of the tube.
 9. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the fins are arc-shaped.
 10. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the fins are wider at the wall than at the end of the fin that extends into the channel.
 11. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein an alternating fin has a length longer than an intervening fin.
 12. A flexible straw formed from the method of claim 1 wherein the fins include a structure at the end of the fin opposite the wall.
 13. A flexible straw formed wherein the tube made of thermoplastic material is extruded and an additional structure, which is an extension of one side of the tube wall, is created by cutting or extruding. The additional thermoplastic extension is then folded back toward the opposite side wall of the tube, and attached at a point by heat-sealing, heat-welding, crimping, or other means of attachment to the opposite tube wall. 